Spring 2025 Health Guidance

We look forward to welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus in the coming weeks, and we offer the following recommendations to help make the spring semester a safe and healthy one for all of us.

We’re here to help: If you have questions or would like to make an appointment with Student Health, please call 440-774-8180 or email health@oberlin.edu. During spring semester, we are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours till 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Walk-in hours (first-come, first-served) are available Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Cold and Flu Season is Here

Respiratory illness activity in the United States is currently high. We encourage all members of our campus community to stay vigilant with hand and respiratory hygiene measures and take precautions to protect themselves and those around them. Please read on for additional health recommendations and updates.

Respiratory illness season: Cases of influenza and COVID-19 are on the rise in Lorain County. These viruses can cause symptoms ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to more severe respiratory distress, especially in those with underlying health conditions. Learn more about respiratory viruses on the Centers for Disease Control website.

Symptoms to watch for: Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, cough, runny or congested nose, and decrease in appetite. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or otherwise do not feel well, please reach out to Student Health for an appointment and guidance on helpful steps to take.

Preventing Respiratory Illnesses

Hand hygiene: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Find additional handwashing guidance on the CDC website.

Vaccination: As with other vaccine-preventable diseases, you are best protected from severe COVID-19 and flu when you stay current with recommended vaccinations. Flu vaccines are available at Student Health free of charge and with no need for an appointment. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available at CVS and other nearby pharmacies.

Masks: Although masks are not required in indoor spaces, Oberlin continues to be a mask-friendly campus, and all who wish to wear masks are encouraged to do so. Additionally, in light of the current high level of respiratory illnesses nationally, Student Health strongly recommends wearing a mask indoors and/or in crowded spaces for the first two weeks back on campus. Different kinds of masks offer differing levels of protection (see CDC mask guidance). Use the most protective mask you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time and that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth). Free masks are available at Student Health Services.

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and discard tissues in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, please sneeze into an elbow rather than into your hands. Wash hands immediately after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. (See CDC coughing and sneezing guidelines for additional info.)

Testing: We encourage you to test for COVID-19 if you’re experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Rapid antigen self-tests are available for students at Student Health during office hours and at Campus Safety after hours. Please report all positive COVID-19 test results by emailing obiesafe@oberlin.edu. Tests for other respiratory viruses may be ordered by a provider in Student Health when indicated.

If you have symptoms: Oberlin follows CDC guidance for lowering risk and spread of respiratory viruses. If you have respiratory virus symptoms, regardless of test results, please stay home from class, work, and social gatherings to prevent spreading the virus to others. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:

• Your symptoms are getting better overall
• You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

When you return to normal activities, consider taking additional measures to protect others for the next five days. These may include steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masking, and physical distancing. For more information, please refer to the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance.

Norovirus on the Rise

Given the recent surge in reported norovirus cases across the U.S. (as highlighted by the CDC),  please be aware that college campuses are ideal settings for germs—including norovirus—to spread. 

What is norovirus? Norovirus is a common, very contagious virus that causes sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. It’s sometimes called the stomach flu, but noroviruses are not related to the flu. Outbreaks occur throughout the year, but are most common from November to April.

Norovirus signs and symptoms:

• Most common: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain
• Other symptoms: Fever, headache, and body aches
• Symptoms usually develop 12-48 hours after a person has contact with a norovirus.

Most people with norovirus illness get better within one to three days, but the virus can still be spread for a few days afterward.

How does norovirus spread? 

Norovirus is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route. This can occur through:

• Contaminated food and water: Consuming food or water that has been contaminated with the virus.
• Person-to-person contact: Direct contact with an infected person, such as caring for someone who is ill or sharing food or utensils.
• Contaminated surfaces: Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth or face.
• Aerosolized particles: Inhalation of aerosolized particles from vomit.

The virus spreads easily and quickly due to its low infectious dose, requiring as few as 18 viral particles to cause an infection.

If you are sick:

• Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps.
• Do not prepare food for others or handle other people’s food or eating utensils until at least two days have passed since symptoms subsided.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and toilet areas contaminated with fecal material or vomit.

Treatment for norovirus focuses on supportive care and symptom management:

• Hydration: Take frequent sips of liquids throughout the day to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Avoid caffeine, which can make diarrhea worse. 
• Rest: Get plenty of  rest to help the body recover.
• Small meals/snacks: Plain and bland foods—pasta, dry cereal, rice, toast—can help ease symptoms. 

Preventing Norovirus Transmission

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

• Before eating and before preparing or handling food
• After using the toilet

Be aware that hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus.

• Clean and sanitize surfaces regularly with a cleaner approved for norovirus.

Use caution when preparing food: 

• If you have symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and/or stomach cramping, you should not prepare food for others or handle other people’s food or eating utensils until at least two days have passed since symptoms subsided.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Routinely clean and sanitize kitchen utensils and surfaces before preparing food.

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Together, we can all contribute to keeping our campus community healthy and safe this semester. If you have any questions, please email us at health@oberlin.edu.